ENGLISH

LITERATURE
PROJECT “ASPECTS
OF THE
ELIZABETHAN ERA”

GROUP MEMBERS:

 ALI HUMAYUN X-E

 TAHA JAVED X-E
 RIBAAL MAZHAR X-E
 ZAID FAISAL X-E
 BACKGROUND
ELIZABETHAN ERA
Elizabethan Period is generally regarded as the greatest in the history
of English Literature. Historically, we note in this age, the tremendous
impetus received from the Renaissance from the Reformation & from
the exploration of the new world. 
It was marked by a strong national spirit, by patriotism, by religious
tolerance, by social content, by intellectual progress & by unbounded
enthusiasm.

Such an age of thought, feeling & vigorous action, finds its best
expression in the drama; & the wonderful development of the drama,
culminating.

Though the age produced some of the excellent prose works, it is

essentially an age of poetry; & the poetry is remarkable for its variety,
its freshness, its youth & romantic feeling.
 SOCIAL ASPECTS OF
THE ELIZABETHAN ERA
Elizabethan England had four main classes: the Nobility, the Gentry, the
Yeomanry, and the Poor. A person's class determined how they could dress,
where they could live, and the kinds of jobs people and their children could get.

A nobleman was rich and powerful and therefore during the reign of

Elizabeth as well as the reigns of her father and Grandfather Henry VIII and
Henry VII, the monarch rarely appointed new nobles. They viewed the noble
class as a threat to their power and liked to keep their numbers small. A person
could become a noble either by birthright or by a grant from the king or queen.
Nobility could lose their fortune, but it took a high crime like treason to lose
their title. 

The gentry were knights, squires, gentlemen, and gentlewomen whose

fortunes were great enough that they did not have to work with their hands for
a living. Their numbers grew rapidly and became the most important class
during Elizabethan time. They could start as a knight and through generations
and marriages, they could gradually build wealth and title. Most of the
important people of this time came from this class.

The Yeomanry were the ‘middle class'. They could live comfortably with the
little savings they built up, but at any moment, be it illness or famine, could lose
everything. While the gentry spent their wealth-building large homes, the
yeomen used their wealth more simply and instead worked to expand their land
and improve it.

At the bottom were the Poor who for some reason or another found
themselves without money, food, or shelter. Because their numbers were
increasing, the Poor Laws were passed to assist them. Any Poor person found
guilty of being able to do an honest day's work but who chose not to, could be
sentenced to death.
POLITICAL ASPECTS OF
THE ELIZEBETHAN ERA
During Elizabethan times, the Queen held supreme power according to law,
heredity and the doctrine of divine right; she was the primary source of
patronage and had the last word on all state policy. The government was viewed
as the monarch’s private business and its success, therefore, depended greatly
upon the ruler’s strength of character and political acumen.
Elizabeth I was particularly successful because she valued the goodwill of her
subjects above all; the abuse of royal prerogative under James and Charles I
provoked much resentment and led to increasing limitations upon royal power.
The Elizabethan administrative structure was highly centralized, with most
actions centered on the Privy Council, which in turn was directly appointed by
the monarch.

One of the main assets of the Elizabethan era that affected drama was the
stability of the English crown. Under Queen Elizabeth, England had enjoyed a
long period of relative peace and prosperity. This led playwrights such as
William Shakespeare to warn the community through a drama about the dangers
of violent change in the existing order. For example Julius Caesar where the
murderer of a ruler leads to chaos, tyranny and bloodshed.
The political concern was intensely felt in drama because the theater was a
place where people shared their thoughts provocative action and manipulation
of the playwright. The drama was used to clarify facts and oppose the present
state of government.

LITERARY ASPECTS OF
THE ELIZABETHAN ERA
Revival of Interest in Greek Literature 
The ardent revival in the study of Greek literature brought a dazzling light
into many dark places of interest. The new classical influences were a
great benefit. They tempered & polished the earlier rudeness of English
Literature.

Abundance of Output 
The Elizabethan age was rich in literary productions of all kinds. Singing
is impossible when one’s heart is undeclared & at any moment one may be
laid prostrate. 

Not till the accession of Queen Elizabeth, did a better state of things begin
to be. In the Elizabethan age, pamphlets & treatises were freely written.

Sometimes writers indulged in scurrilous abuses which were of personal

character. But on the whole, the output of the literature was very wide, &
after the lean years of the preceding epoch, the prodigal issue of the
Elizabethan age is almost embarrassing.

The New Romanticism 

The romantic quest is, for the remote, the wonderful & the beautiful. All
these desires were abundantly fed during the Elizabethan age, which is the
first & the greatest romantic epoch (period). 

According to Albert, “there was a daring & resolute spirit of adventure

in literary as well as the other regions, & most important of these was an
un-mistakable buoyancy & freshness in the strong wind of the spirit. It
was the ardent youth of English Literature & the achievement was
worthy of it.”
Translations in Elizabethan Age 
The Elizabethan age witnessed the translation into English of several
important foreign books. Many translations were as popular as the original
works. Sir Thomas North translated Plutarch’s Lives & John Florio
translated Montaigne’s Essays. 
No less popular were the translations of poetry. E.g. Metamorphoses by
Arthur Golding, Aristotle’s Orlando Furioso by Sir John Harrington,
Tasso’s Jerusalem Libera Taby Richard Carew.
Spirit of Independence 
In spite of borrowings from abroad, the authors of this age showed a spirit
of independence & creativeness. Shakespeare borrowed freely, but by the
alembic of his creative imaginations, he transformed the dross into gold. 
Spenser introduced the ‘Spenserian Stanza’, & from his works, we got the
impression of inventiveness & intrepidity. On the whole, the outlook of the
writers during the age was broad & independent.
Development of Drama 
During the Elizabethan Age, the drama made a swift & wonderful leap
into maturity. The drama reached splendid perfection in the hands of
Shakespeare & Ben Jonson, though in the concluding part of the age,
particularly in the Jacobean Age, there was a decline of drama standards.
Popularity of Poetry 
Poetry enjoyed its hey-dey during this time. The whole of the age lived in
a state of poetic fervor. Songs, lyrics & sonnets were produced in plenty,
& England became the nest of the singing birds. In versification, there was
a marked improvement. Melody & pictorialism were introduced in poetry
by Spenser.
Prose & Novel 
For the first time, prose rose to the position of first-rate
importance. “Even the development of poetical drama between 1579
A.D. -1629 A.D., is hardly more extraordinary than the sudden
expansion of English prose & its adaptation to every kind of literary
requirement.”
The deadweight of the Latin & English prose acquired a tradition &
universal application. English Novel made its first proper appearance
during this age.